New Day Dawn is blessed with an assertive singer named Dawn Botti. In fact, her label is humorously named Botti Parts Records. Visually, The Company We Keep is illustrated with many beautiful things, such as a fully bloomed flower on the front cover and children standing in a field of flowers on the back. But the songs themselves suggest that the company being kept isn’t getting along too well at the moment. There is the ideal (innocent children watching a beautifully blazing sun rising), and then there’s the sometimes sad reality (two lovers not seeing eye to eye, which is strongly suggested by many song lyrics).
The disc opens with one called “Misunderstood”, where Botti admits, “My English ain’t so good.” Of course, she actually has perfect command of her native tongue. The point being that somehow communication between two partners is just not happening – for whatever reason. Right after the singing of the song ends, in fact, the unintelligible babbling of a child can be heard. This struggling little talker makes the point stick; there’s a big difference between sounding like one’s talking, and actually engaging in successful communication. (This opening song reappears in a different formation once again at the end of the disc. Only this time it’s remixed as a dance track titled “The ’91 Time Machine Remix”. And while it’s a curiosity to hear a relatively straight rock band put into a dance context, this extra inclusion is a tad superfluous).
Not surprisingly, Botti has no trouble at all communicating the pain caused by her alcoholic father. The aptly titled “Daddy’s Song”, which is mournfully colored by Patrick J Angeloni’s lap steel guitar work, paints the picture of a man who would rather hang out at a local bar, than soberly face his problems at home. But as sad as this tale is, Botti has turned these haunting experiences into an inspiring reason to fight back. “When the world gives you nothing/You turn around and give ‘em hell,” she nearly screams. She closes the song by declaring: “I don’t want to live my life/Live it like you.”
New Day Dawn drummer Gary Szczecino is also Botti’s husband, which makes you wonder if Dawn is drawing upon painful memories of the past, or honest enough to put her current trials and temptations into song. Whether these songs are truly fact, or merely fiction, New Day Dawn consistently creates tight, but nevertheless pop-saturated, rock. Botti may share Pat Benatar’s toughness, vocally, but she is by no means angry all the time like that ‘80s icon. She is equally comfortable with the choppy, guitar-driven “Misunderstood”, as she is with the slower “See Me Fall”, and the slowest “Daddy’s Song”. Botti co-produced this CD with Chris Gibson, and repeated listening reveals a few of the nice touches they added to these recorded performances. For instance, Rob Choe’s bass during “Misunderstood” is particularly distinctive with how stereo separation is used to make it stand out.
Listeners can debate forever on how personal, or impersonal, The Company We Keep truly is. But there’s no argument about the quality of this music because every performance is sharp and focused, and expertly communicated. Over and out.
Reviewed By Dan MacIntosh
